For the second time in the history of the school, Pioneer High School will advance to the regional level in this year’s One-Act Play UIL competition. Previously, the Alpha Theatre Troupe advanced to regionals back in 2016.

Pioneer’s Alpha Theatre Troupe will be competing Monday at the 5A Region IV One-Act-Play Competition in San Antonio after placing in the top three at the area competition held March 30, according to the campus’ theatre director Charles Brenner.

The students competed by performing an act of Laura Lundgren Smith’s play “Dark Road.” The play tells the story of two sisters living in Nazi Germany who begin to drift apart after one of them begins working as a guard at a concentration camp, leaving the other sister horrified at her actions.

“This bunch has definitely turned some heads this season, Brenner said, “As one of the only four Valley schools left in the UIL One-Act-Play Competition, they have earned the right of being known as one of the top-notch high school theatre troupes in the Region.”

Pioneer High School joins Tuloso-Midway High School, Seguin high School, Joseph W. Nixon High School, Marble Falls High School and Austin High School, Brenner said. Sharyland High Schools’ theater troupe, meanwhile, was awarded Alternate Play, meaning they will perform if one of the advancing plays cannot make it to the competition.

According to Principal James Heath, the success of the Alpha Theatre Troupe is well-deserved.

“These students did what they had to to be successful and I enjoy watching them perform,” Heath said. “They are passionate about theatre and it shows, I am very excited for them to have this opportunity to represent our schools and community at the regional competition.”

Individual cast members have also been recognized for their role in the play, Brenner said. Junior Carina Ramirez, for example, has won the “Best Actress” award at three of the four Zone, District, Bi-District, and Areacompetitions.

If they place in regionals, the Alpha Theatre Troupe will advance to competing at the state level, Brenner said.The 5A Region IV One-Act-Play Competition will be held Monday, April 16 at Southwest High School in San Antonio starting at 11 a.m. Pioneer’s theatre troupe is scheduled to be the final performance of the competition.